Current News
by tim
BURLINGTON, Vt.Champlain College has named Robert Lee Edwards, JD, of Colchester as the new director of the Criminal Justice program.
Edwards brings more than 32 years of experience in international, urban and rural law enforcement, as well as roles as an attorney and college professor. Most recently, Edwards has been a member of the Independent Judicial Commission in Bosnia and Herzegovina as the head of office in Tuzla. His team investigated complaints of misconduct of judges and prosecutors, verified applications for appointment to judicial posts, and reviewed proposed legislation relating to judicial procedure.
This was fulfilling, history-making work that was highly appreciated by the citizens, Edwards said. The courts had been ethnically cleansed and politicized and we reversed a substantial portion of that sad piece of the history of Bosnia.
by tim
State Seeks Additional Partners In Major Marketing Venture
MONTPELIER, Vt. - A total of 15 Vermont businesses and the Vermont
Department of Tourism & Marketing (VDTM) are making plans to head south
to
tap into one of the world's most lucrative consumer venues and they are
looking for more partners to join them.
Beginning October 1 and running through November 15, these businesses
will
display their products and services at the 9th Annual Epcot
International
Food and Wine Festival at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando,
Florida.
The event is expected to draw between 1.5 and 2 million people during
its
45-day run. State officials say they still hope to attract a few more
businesses to join this effort.
"We're very pleased with the response we've received so far from a wide
variety of Vermont businesses," said Tourism & Marketing Commissioner
Bruce
by tim
DATE: August 9, 2004
CONTACT: Kenn Sassorossi Housing Vermont, 863-8424
John Powell Lake Champlain Housing Development Corporation, 863-5248
Waugh Opera House Rehabilitation Construction Begins
- Senator Leahy Visits Site -
[St. Albans, VT] A historic, four-story building located in the heart of downtown St. Albans is undergoing a complete rehabilitation. When completed, twenty affordable apartments will be constructed on the top three floors of the former Waugh Opera House on Main Street, also known as the Doolin Building. Co-partners Housing Vermont and the Lake Champlain Housing Development Corporation are leading the $3.7 million renovation.
US Senator Patrick Leahy joined developers and funders today in a tour of the Waugh Opera House property. Leahy was instrumental in obtaining federal HUD funding for the project. Senator Leahy was joined by City of St. Albans Mayor Peter Delauriers and City Manager Brian Searles.
by tim
Vermont Sees Mixed Results, Positive Indicators From DNC
MONTPELIER, Vt. - Unpredictable weather appears to have had a dampening
effect on the expected surge of visitors from the Boston area to Vermont
during the Democratic National Convention (DNC), but state officials say
there are many positive indicators showing that the Vermont message was,
and
continues to be, well received.
"Weather has clearly been a factor all summer, and has particularly
impacted
those events and attractions that are weather dependent and we suspect
this
was true during the DNC as well," said Vermont Tourism and Marketing
Commissioner Bruce Hyde. Hyde said that the good news is that people
appear
to be responding to the state's marketing efforts and that Vermont's
overall
tourism economy continues to perform well in relation to many other
states.
by tim
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
Municipalities to Compete for Remediation Assessment Funding
MONTPELIER Vermont municipalities seeking to study the feasibility of
restoring property located in a town or village center may apply for
grants up to $10,000 under a new grant program announced by the
Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Activities may include environmental assessments, building
conditions analysis, corrective action planning, cost
estimating, engineering or other professional evaluation of
land, buildings or property infrastructure components required
to ascertain the suitability of the property for renovation,
construction, or utilization for a specific purpose. Grant
recipients are required to provide a 25% match.
Our downtowns and village centers offer tremendous reuse
by tim
VBR Releases Third Quarter, 2004 CEO Economic Outlook Survey Results
So. Burlington, VT- Results from the Vermont Business Roundtable's (VBR)
third quarter, 2004 CEO Economic Outlook Survey, show that, compared to
the previous quarter results, more of our member CEOs are planning
increases over the next six months in two important measures: capital
spending and employment. While projections for company sales are
optimistic, compared to the previous quarter results, a higher percentage
of business leaders feel that sales are more likely to remain stable for
the next six months.
Douglas J. Wacek, President & CEO of the Union Mutual of Vermont Companies
in Montpelier and Ernie Pomerleau, President & CEO of Pomerleau Real
Estate in Burlington are members of the VBR. When asked to comment on his
CEO Economic Outlook Survey responses, Wacek stated that "continued growth
by tim
Central Vermont reports second quarter earnings
RUTLAND - Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) has reported consolidated second quarter earnings of
$3.5 million, or 27 cents per basic and diluted share of common stock. This compares to second quarter
2003 earnings of $5.1 million, or 40 cents per basic and diluted share of common stock.
For the first six months of 2004, CV reported earnings of $13.9 million, or $1.10 per basic and $1.09 per diluted
share of common stock, a $3.8 million increase from a year ago. Earnings for the first six months of 2003 totaled
$10.1 million, or 80 cents per basic and 79 cents per diluted share of common stock.
by tim
CVPS Cow Power" links farms, renewables and customers
Central Vermont Public Service customers who want to support renewable energy and Vermont dairy farms have a new energy choice -- CVPS Cow Power". The Vermont Public Service Board has approved CVPS Cow Power", which is intended to help promote development and reliance on renewable energy in Vermont by creating a market for energy generated by burning methane from cow manure.
By enrolling in CVPS Cow Power", customers will help support Vermont dairy farms that develop generators that run on methane from cow manure, renewable generation in the region, or incentives to farmers to get into the business.
by tim
"COW" FOLLOWS PHISH TO COVENTRY,
VERMONT CONCERT DATES
Verizon Wireless Network Prepared to Accommodate Concert Crowds
BURLINGTON, VT When Phish fans gather to welcome the Vermont-based rock
band back home at the final shows of the band¹s Summer 2004 Tour, Verizon
Wireless will be on hand with a "COW," a portable cell site called "Cell
On Wheels," which is used to increase network capacity for special events
where significant cell phone usage is anticipated. The Phish concerts are
scheduled for August 14 and 15 at the Newport State Airport in Coventry.
by tim
Premier Charest and Governor Douglas review
Progress on Agreements and shared concerns
Burlington, August 3, 2004-Québec Premier Jean Charest and Vermont
Governor Jim Douglas met Tuesday at ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake
Champlain in Burlington, Vermont, to review progress made under the
Cooperation Agreement Between the Government of Québec and the
Government of the State of Vermont and discuss shared concerns including
security, environmental issues surrounding lakes Champlain and
Memphremagog, and the extension of Highway 35 in Québec.
Progress has been made in many areas under the Québec-Vermont agreement
signed in December 2003, including
* Establishment of a joint Québec-Vermont committee to draw up
and monitor the 2004-2005 action plan
* Renewal of agreements on lakes Champlain and Memphremagog, as
by tim
COLCHESTER, Vt., Aug 3, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Green Mountain Power Corporation (NYSE: GMP) has announced consolidated earnings of $0.34 per share of common stock, diluted, for the second quarter of 2004, compared with $0.22 per share, diluted, for the same period in 2003. Earnings for the first six months of 2004 are $1.06 per share, diluted, compared with $1.01 per share, diluted, for the same period in 2003.
"We are pleased with operating results during the first half of 2004, which show strong revenue growth from sales to all customer classes," said Christopher L. Dutton, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to expect earnings for the year to range between $2.05 and $2.15 per share."
by tim
REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT RECOMMENDED
Proposal would change funding of public transportation in Vermont
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT -- A task force of the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO) has recommended a new Regional Public Transportation District for Chittenden County as part of a proposal that would change the way public transportation in Vermont is funded and governed.
The initial recommendations of the Regional Public Transportation Initiative Task Force call for legislation that would authorize a Regional Public Transportation District to plan, implement, and manage public transportation in Chittenden County. An interim board of this District would develop detailed governance and funding proposals and report back to the legislature for final approval before a public vote on the issue. The recommendations also provide a mechanism for creating up to five other Districts throughout the State.